1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 The 401k access rules they never taught you — RMDs, hardship withdrawals, loans &amp;amp; hidden costs. 👉 More Without the Bank Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXYvzroUouEMsTGKFw5nJHQ&amp;nbsp; In this episode, Tarisa breaks down the third half-truth of 401k plans: access and distribution. The rules around when and how you can touch your own retirement money are far more restrictive than most people realize — and ignoring them could cost you thousands. In this episode: ✅ Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) — why the government forces withdrawals at 73, even if you don't need the money ✅ Hardship Distributions — the only 5 qualifying events that avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty ✅ 401k Loans — the repayment rules, what happens if you leave your job, and the hidden opportunity cost ✅ Inherited 401k — what your beneficiaries actually owe in taxes when they inherit your account ✅ Whole Life Insurance — how it offers uninterrupted compounding and flexible access as an alternative This is Part 3 of our series on the Top 5 Half-Truths of 401k. Don't miss it. 💡 Key Ideas&amp;nbsp; 1. RMDs force withdrawals at 73 — ready or not. The IRS mandates distributions starting at age 73 to collect deferred taxes. Even if you don't need the money, you're required to take it — and it can push you into a higher tax bracket. 2. Only 5 events qualify for a penalty-free hardship distribution. Medical expenses, primary home purchase, eviction/foreclosure prevention, funeral costs, and primary residence repairs are the only IRS-approved exceptions to the 10% early withdrawal penalty. 3. 401k loans carry more risk than most people know. You can borrow up to $50,000, but if you leave your job, the balance may be due in as little as 60–90 days. Miss the deadline and it's reclassified as a taxable distribution — plus a 10% penalty. 4. The real cost of a 401k loan is the compounding you miss. Money borrowed from your account stops earning. It's not just the interest — it's the opportunity cost of interrupted growth over time. 5. Whole life insurance (especially when structured for Infinite Banking) lets your money work while you borrow. Unlike a 401k loan, policy loans use the insurance company's money — your cash value keeps earning uninterrupted compound interest the entire time. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction &amp;amp; Series Overview 1:33 - Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) 2:34 - Hardship Distributions &amp;amp; Qualifying Events 3:30 - 401k Loans: Rules &amp;amp; Repayment 6:00 - The Hidden Opportunity Cost of 401k Loans 8:04 - Inherited 401k Tax Rules 8:35 - 401k Limitations Recap 12:30 - Whole Life Insurance as an Alternative 16:30 - Wrap-Up &amp;amp; Next Episode Preview 📅 Ready to build a strategy that actually works for you? 👉 Get the book here and schedule your call with Tarisa or Mary Jo → https://www.withoutthebank.com/book&amp;nbsp; Without the Bank Podcast https://withoutthebank.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/41193915/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/201644110